The Acupressure Mat - 'may help with depression'

Have you ever wanted to have your own Indian bed of nails?

(Image credit)

Yes, me too! Until one pops up on Ebay, though, we'll have to make do with this rubber 'Acupressure' mat.

It's another thing I'd definitely buy, if I had money to spare for novelties.

Yet again, though, a perfectly reasonable product is ruined by an advertisement with improbable claims like "may help with depression".

As surely as night follows day, an ASA complaint has been submitted.

"I write to complain about an advert in "Natural Health" magazine (May 2010, p114).

The advert, for Pennybridge Health Care Ltd, promotes the "Acupressure Mat".

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of one section of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The CAP Code, Section 50.1, states "Medical and scientific claims made about beauty and health-related products should be backed by evidence, where appropriate consisting of trials conducted on people..."

2. I challenge whether any of the following claims are backed by evidence, where appropriate consisting of clinical trials conducted on people:

(i) The Acupressure Mat may help with sciatica
(ii) The Acupressure Mat may help with slipped discs
(iii) The Acupressure Mat may help with depression
(iv) The Acupressure Mat may help with fibromyalgia
(v) The Acupressure Mat may help with high or low blood pressure

3. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser, the magazine, or with the publishing and alternative medicine industries in general. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."